Steering device for ships.



F. R. HEMENGER.

STEERING DEVICE EOE SHIPS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29, 1-913.

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F. n. HBMENGER. STEERING DEVICE FOR SHIPS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29, 1913.'

Patented Apr. 7, 1914.

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FRANCIS RUSSELL HEMENGER, 0F ALGONAC, MICHIGAN.

STEERING DEVICE FOR SHIPS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 7, 1914.

Application filed March 29, 1913. Serial No. 757,641.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, F RANoIs RUSSELL HEMENGER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Algonac, in the county of St. Clair and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steering Devices for Ships, of which the following is a specication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to a shipconstruction, and the principal object of the invention is to provide the ship with rotating paddle wheels located in the fore and after peaks of the vessel, and used to assist in guiding the vessel. This construction would be of great advantage when docking a ship, or where it is desired to quickly turn the vessel. l/Vhen it is desired to turn the vessel quickly the two paddle Wheels would be rotated in opposite directions, thus causing the vessel to turn as though it were mounted upon a pivot.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved means for mo-unting the paddle wheels so that the ship Will be prevented from leaking.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the partitions through which the propelling shaft passes that the partitions will form bulkheads assisting in making the ship water tight.

With these and other objects in view this invention consists of certain novel combinations, constructions, and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of a ship provided with the improved device. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the hull of the ship. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 3 3, in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view along the line 4 4, in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the propeller wheels.

The ship 10 which is shown in the drawing illustrates one form of ship with which this device may be connected, but it is, of course, understood that this device could be used with ships of any size and construction. The hull is provided with water tight bulkheads 11 and 12, thus dividing the ship and forming the forward and rear peaks 13 vpaddle wheels are located in these forward and rearl peaks, and it will thus be seen that they will be positioned out of the way and will, therefore, not interfere with the cargo.

`The motors for driving the paddle wheels are not shown since they do not form part of the invention nor is the controlling means for these motors shown. The construction of the two paddle wheels and the housings in which they are mounted are the same and, therefore, a description of one of them will suffice for both.

The vessel is provided with a passageway 15 at each end which extends the full width of the ship, thus permitting the water to iow freely from one side to the other side of the ship. Partitions 16 and 17 extend from opposite sides of the passageway 15 and constitute water tight walls for preventing water from flowing through t-he passageway 15 into the interior of the vessel. Apartition is mounted between the walls 16 and 17 and comprises the end portions 18 which are connected by the dome shape central portion 19, thus forming the housing in which the paddle wheel is mounted. This partition is also water tight and it will, therefore, be seen that water cannot liow into the space 20 above the partition 19.

The shaft 21 of the motor which operates the device has its end portions supported in bearings 22 carried by the supporting bracket 23, and passes through the water tight bearings 24 in the walls 16 and 17, which bearings 24 prevent water from leaking into the interior of the vessel. The paddle wheel is rigidly mounted upon the shaft 21 between the walls 16 and 17 and comprises a hub 25 from which there extend the radiating blades 26. This propeller is of such size that it lits nicely in the housing as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and from an inspection of these figures it will be readily seen that the water in the passageway 15 will be freely driven from one side of the ship to the other, thus causing the ship to be swung sidewise. If the vessel is brought into port and a landing is attempted the vessel can be moved over toward the pier in case it comes to a stop at a considerable distance from the pier. This will do away with the necessity of backing ont and making a fresh landing, and will also do away with the necessity of using tugs for drawing a large ship into place.

Applicant is aware of the fact that vessels have been provided with devices similar toV v those shown in the patent granted to J. P.

Serve, No. 641,154, but has provided a decided improvement in vessel construction over that shown in the patent to Serve, since in this device the water passes through a tube and, therefore, if the paddle wheel is rotated rapidly the water will not feed into the tube with suiiicient speed. It should also be noted that it is not necessary in applicants construction to provide screens for keeping seaweed out, since the passageway l5 is open and, therefore, there is no tube to become clogged with seaweed.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new, is

In a steering device for ships, the combination with a hull chaving passageways eX- tending across its bow and stern, said passageways being open at the bottom and at both ends, the tops of said passageways being closed by horizontal end walls, said end walls being connected by semi-circular walls forming housings, the sides of said passageways being closed by bulkheads, shafts journaled in the bulkheads and extending across the passageways, steering propellers mounted on the shafts, and means for rotating the shafts.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANCIS RUSSELL HEMENGER. Y

Y Witnesses: Y

H. B. GUNNiss, DAVID 7. JOHNSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of YIPatents,

Washington, D. C. Y 

